Writing instrument



Dec. 23, 1958 E. R. swANK WRITING INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 23, 1958 E. R. swANK WRITING INSTRUMENTFiled Nov. 2s, 1954 nited States Patent 'i WRITING INSTRUMENT EverettTR.Swank, Hayward, Calif. `-ApplicationNovember 26, 1954, Serial No.471,269

fClaims. (Cl.4 1Z0-17) Thisinvention relates `toiimproved-automatic'writing Linstruments including, particularly, automaticpencils.

I` am awareof variousy commercial makes and models of sfo-calledautomatic pencils which incorporate pushbutton or similar manualcontrols which must be actuated totfeed and retractthe writing lead intoand out of writing position.

Itis a principal object of the present invention to provide aniautomatiepencil which eliminates entirely conventional push-button or Similarmanually actuated con- 4itrolsandto provide, instead, a pencil which isco-nstructed .to both .feed and retract thewriting lead into and out ofwriting position merely through application of pressure `or thrustagainst the writing point end of the pencil, or against the writing tipo-f the lead itself.

Another object `is to provide a pencil having the ad- :vantage abovementionedand in .which the lead feed mechanism is constructed touniformly advance the tip of thewriting lead 'to a predetermineddistance beyond .thetpencil point upon one or more actuations of thefeed :mechanism .and regardless of the previously extended length of thewriting ,lead prior to actuation `of said feed mechanism. `ln vthisregard, the manner .in which the feed mechanism is actuated in thepresent pencili. e.,

`simply by pressing the pencil point against a :stationary object suchasa `table surface to cause `retraction of the .point-finsures the tip endof the lead retracting into the `beyond the desired predetermineddistance of extension irrespective of the number of times the feedmechanism may be successively actuated.

A furtherobject is to provide a pencil of` the character above mentionedand in which the writing lead is maintained in extended or writingposition by a supporting mechanism that is resiliently spring biasedagainst retraction and, hence, functions `to absorb shock andextraordinary thrust forces exerted against the lead tip during writinguse. Such an arrangement has the advantage of reducing the likelihood oflead breakage due to shock forces exerted against the lead tip, and, ingeneral, also provides for a lsmoother writing performance of thepencil.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic pencilincorporating a lead feed mechanism in conjunction with a reserve leadmagazine insert, `the latter including an eraser unit formed ofresilient shock absorb- Y ent material arranged to cushion shock forcesimparted to said feed mechanism.

Another. object of the `invention is to provide a novel magazine insertfor containing an eraser and a reserve i supply `of writing leads withinthe casing body.

`tional view of the pencil showing the parts in operating condition.

2,865,330 Patented Dec. 23, 19.58

'ice

`Other further objectsand advantages of the-*present invention willbecome apparent upon readingthe followingspecification and referring tothe accompanying draw- `ings Ain-whichsimi1ar characters of referencerepresent corresponding parts in each'of theseveral views.

In the drawings z' Fig.`l is a view'inside elevation ofthe pencilshowing most of the portions thereof broken away in section.

-Fig. '2 isan enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal l'seca first Fig. 3 isthe same as Fig.` 2 showing the relative location of parts in a secondoperating condition.

fFig.' 4 is the same as Fig. 2 showing the relative location `of partsin athird operatingcondition.

Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 2 showing the -relative location of parts ina fourth operating condition.

Figf6 `isthe `same as Fig. `Zeshowing the relative location oflpartsin afth operating condition.

'Referring now more specically to the drawings, the `reference numeral 1designates a tubularpencil casing for housingthe operatingparts ofthepencil mechanism. LA

rtubularmagazine insert 2 for containing a reserve sup-,plyofwritingleads 3 is slidably disposed within 'casing 1. Oneend of`magazine 2 is closed or plugged by a convenrtional eraser 4 formed withan annular lshoulder 4a and Ithevmagazine is normally maintained inproper position within the-casinglby a centrally apertured screw cap6'through which the outer end of eraser 4 pro-jects. Itis observed thatshoulder 4a ofthe eraser establishes a cushion between cap 6 and theouter end of insert hv2, which, as' will more fully appear,'functions asa 'shock 'absorber for the lead feed mechanismof the pencil. The

forward or'inner end of magazine Z terminates in acrestrictedfunnel-shaped bore 7-the funnel-shaped por- -tion of the magazineserving as a hopper Ito guide the writing leads into the magazine boreand thence intothe feed 4mechanism of the pencil as the length ofwriting .lead Within'the feed mechanism is progressively shortened andadvanced during writinguse.

The reciprocable means for supporting `thelead during "writing use andfo-r controlling feed and retraction `of the writing lead is shown ascomprising a tubular sleeve or barrel 8 mounted slidably in a barrel.receiver 13 for slidably receiving and supporting a length of writinglead 3a. The forward end of barrel 8 is provided with alead engagingcollet 9 which can be actuated to releasa- :bly frictionally clamp thewriting lead 3a against slidable retractable movement within barrel V3during normal `riting use. More specifically, collet 9 is shown ascomprising a split collar formed as an integral end extremity l of thebarrel 3 and defining annular cam surfaces "11 proportioned to nestwithin and be engaged by seat 12 of barrel receiver tube 13. The splitcollar clamping jaws of collet 9 are made of spring material normallybiased to spring open from clamping engagement with lead 3a'. Therearward end portion of barrel 8 `is provided Lwith a .pair of spacedannular abutment shoulders 14 and 16 disposed to opposite sides of anapertured partition washer or membrane 17 through which lbarrel 3slidably extends. Annular shoulder 1.6 is mounted for slidablereciprocation within chamber 18 formed in the end of magazine 8forwardly of funnel-shaped bore 7. lThe shoulders 14 and 16 beingdisposed to either .side of partition 17 for abutment thereagains'tfunction to limit the extent of permissible reciprocable movement of thebarrel in either direction.

The barrel receiver `tube or sleeve 13 as above indicated is mountedslidably on barrel 8. `A helical spring 2, and particularly whenshoulder latter against retractable movement ment with groove ceiver,move from A retractor sleeve 33 is also mounted slidably within Y tionalsplit sleeve type lead 3 engaged against cam surfaces 11 of collet 9 tothereby restrain retractable movement of the lead 3a during ordinarywriting use. Said helical spring 19 also provides a resilient couplingor connection between barrel 8 and receiver 13 whereby retractablemovement of the re- Vceiver will also cause corresponding retraction ofthe barrel during a cycle of operation to be later described. Mounted011 the receiver 13 is a rigid or stationary annular abutment 22 yand aslidable abutment washer 23 between which said abutment members ismounted an expansion spring 24. When the operating parts are in theirnormal extended position of use as shown in Fig. 16 is firmly abuttedagainst partition washer 17, spring 24 functions to exert anpadditionalspring force against receiver 13 tending to urge seat 12 of saidreceiver against the clamping jaws of collet 9 to maintain said jawsfirmly frictionally clamped against lead 3a and to thereby restrain theduring normal writing use.

Abutment washer 23 is slidably mounted on a portion of the barrelreceiver of reduced diameter which establishes an annular shoulder 26for limiting relative slidt able movement between the washer and thereceiver 13 in one direction as shown in Fig. 6, for example. Relativeslidable movement between washer 23 and receiver 13 in the oppositedirection is limited by a split retaining ring 27 engaged within anappropriate annular groove formed in the body of the receiver 13. Theonly function of retaining ring 27 is to provide ease of assembly of theparts within the pencil casing and said retaining ring do-es notfunction in any material respect during subsequent operation of theassembled mechamsm.

Formed in the body of the barrel receiver 13 rearwardly of retainingring 27 are a pair of spaced, annular grooves 28 and 29 for lockingengagement with the jaws 30 of a split sleeve locking collet 31 havingits base end securely crimped as at 32 with partition wa;her 17 toprohibit relative movement between said collet and washer. As will morefully hereinafter appear, during one cycle of operation, the lockingcollet 31 is moved from engagement within groove 29 into engage- 28 totemporarily restrain extendible movement of receiver 13 while othercomponents of the feed mechanism, releasably interconnected with thereretracted to extended position.

casing 1 and slidable with respect to barrel receiver 13. The base endof retractor sleeve 33 is of larger diameter than its forward bodyportion to estabilsh an abutment shoulder 34 which is adapted to abutagainst a complementally proportioned annular seat 36 formed as anintegral portion of casing 1. The inner surface of shoulder 34 is alsoproportioned to abut against shoulder 22 on receiver 13 wherebyretractable movement of retractor 33 will cause corresponding retractionof receiver 13 as will more fully appear hereinafter.

The forward or outer end of retractor 33 terminates in a centrallyapertured tapered point 37, truncated conical shape in cross-section,which defines the writing end tip of the pencil structure. 4Point 37 isformed with a central bore which is proportioned to .receive a conveneretainer 38 for frictionally engaging the writing lead 3a.

The spring tension of retainer 38 can be and is adjusted to insureextendible movement of the lead with the retractor and relative tobarrel 8 and receiver 13 during one cycle of operation of the mechanismto bemore fully explained hereinafter. Further, the frictional clampingengagement continuously exerted by retainer v 38 is also sufficient toprevent the ing through and dropping o-ut from the apertured point `whenthe length of lead 3B becomes so short that it adj vances to a pointforward of clamping collet 9 whereat,

lead from freely slidof course, no clamping force can be exerted againstthe lead by said collet.

The retractor sleeve 33 is normally biased to its extended position byexpansion spring mounted over the rearward portion of the barrelreceiver 13 and the spring jaw portion of locking collet 31, and withits opposite ends engaging said locking collet and the slidable abutmentwasher 23. In this connection, it is noted that the outer circumferenceof washer 23 abuts against the base end of retractor sleeve 33 wherebythe force ot' spring 35 is normally transmitted through the washer 23 tothe retractor slide 33. It is observed that spring 24, previouslymentioned, and which is mounted on the barrel receiver with its oppositeends abutting against the front face of washer 23 and abutment shoulder22 carried adjacent the forward end of the receiver, to some extentequalizes the force of spring 35 acting on the rearward face of saidwasher. It is important, however, that the force of spring 35 be greaterthan the force of spring 24 whereby the slidable washer 23 is at alltimes biased toward abutting engagement with the base end of retractor33.

A lead guide sleeve 39 base portion 41 frictionally ward end of receiverslidably mounted on the for- 13, and retractable therewith, and

. having also a reduced diameter forward portion 42 retainer 38. Byproviding sleeve support for the lead substantially throughout itsentire length vwithin the pencil structure, the likelihood of leadbreakage within the engagement of collet 9 mechanism, with consequentlikelihood of jamming, for all practical purposes, is eliminated.

The operation of the above described mechanism will now be described.Referring to Fig. 2, it may be assumed that the working parts are innrrmal position as they would be during ordinary writing use and withthe tip end 3b of the writing lead 3a extended beyond pencil point 37 inwriting position. If it is desired to retract the lead tip 3b within thecentrally aperturd pencil point 37, a user need only apply sufficientpressure or axial thrust against the lead tip 3ID and point 37 toretract the parts far enough to effect release of the lead clampingaction of collet 9 normally tending to restrain the lead againstretraction. The most convenient way v for a user to apply thrust to thelead tip to cause retraction thereof is to manually hold the pencil innormal writing position and push downwardly on the pencil with the leadtip in Contact against a stationary object, such as, for example, atable surface. In amplification of the foregoing and assuming that theworking parts are in their normally extended position yas shown in Fig.2, axial thrust or pressure applied against the tip 3b of the writinglead will, by virtue of the frictional clamping with said lead, causebarrel 8 and receiver 13 to correspondingly retract rearwardly withincasing 1 against the force of spring 24.

Retractable movement of the barrel and barrel re ceiver will also resultin the jaws 30 of locking collet 31 being forcefully disengaged fromgroove 29, and result in the un'grooved body portion of the receivermoving slidably between the collet jaws 3i) (as shown in Fig. 3). It isobserved that so long as axial thrust or pressure is applied onlyagainst the tip 3b of the writing lead, only the barrel 8 and barrelreceiver 13 will be caused to rcv tract slidably within the casing anduntil such point whereat shoulder 14 `on the barrel abuts partitionwasher 17 to thereby limit further retractable movement of said Y`barrel relative to the casing. Retractor sleeve 33 will n'ot having anenlarged diameter asoman thrust `applied against `tl'iefpoint37willcausesleeve 33 `to retract against theforce of spring35.

`Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the operating parts are shown in thefollowing condition of operation: Lead tip 3b is shown retracted withinthe apertured point 3,7 of the pencil. Retractable movementof the leadasabove explained, will have caused the barrel 8 to retract the pointwhereat shoulder 14 abuts partition member 17.

Receiver `13 is also shown as having been retracted relative to thelocking jaws 30 of locking collet 31. It may be observedat this timethat o-nce annular shoulder `14 has been' moved into abutting engagementwith partition washer 17, continued axial thrust applied to the leadwill force said lead through the closed jaws `of collet 9 until suchtimeas collar 2 2 of receiver 13 is contacted by the interior surfacesof shoulder 34 of the retractor, where- `upon release `of thecollet jaws9 willoccur. More spelatter with consequent `releaseof clamping actionagainst qthe lead `3a.

Once `collet 9 has `been caused to open in the above manner, release ofaxial thrust or pressure against point V317 will permit all ofthe partsto return to their normal extended positions (as shown in Fig. 2) underinfluence of the springs 19, Z4 and 35, but with the lead tip 3bretracted within point 37. It` is contemplated, iof course, that thelead tip 3b would ordinarily be `retracted within the pencil point 37 in-the above described manner when theipencil is not in writing use toprevent accidental breakage of the tip and for convenience in carryingthe pencil on ones person.

When it is desired to advance the lead tip `3b from its retractedposition to its `normal extended or writing position, the operation isas follows: Axial thrust or force sufficient to overcome the combinedspring forces of expansion springs 24 and 35 is applied tothe pencilpoint 37. Again this pressure can b e most conveniently applied by auser pushing the pencil point forcefully into contact with a writingtable surface or other stationary object. Under thrust 'so applied topoint 37, retractor sleeve 33 will initially retract a short distanceagainst the force of spring 35 to a point whereat the interior surfacesof shoulder 34 carried by the retractor will abut against shoulder 22carried by receiver 13 as already described. Continued retractablemovement of retractor 33 will also cause corresponding .retractablemovement of receiver 13 against the combined forces of springs 24 and35. Once again rearward movement oreceiver 13 will ca use jaws 30 oflocking collet 31 to be forcefully disengaged from groove 29 andcontinued retraction of said receiver will result in the ungrooved bodyportion of the receiver moving slidably kbetween the collet jaws 3i) (as`shown in Fig. 4)

. into ultimate engagement with groove Z3 (as shown in Fig. 5).Additionally, retractable movement ofrece-iver 13 will, through`resilient spring coupling 19, cause the barrel 8 to retract until suchpoint whereat shoulder 14 will abutagainst partition washer 17. On'ceshoulder 14 is abutted against partition washer 17, retraction ofshoulder 34 against collar 22 will cause seat 12 of the receiver to moveaway from the jaws of collet 9 and permit the same to spring open asalso above explained. in spite of the fact, however, that the clampingpressure of collet 9 against lead 3e is relieved during the initialstage of retractable movement of the barrel receiver, the lead 3al will,nevertheless, continue to retract within the casing corresponding tocontinued retraction of point 37 o f retractor sleeve 33 in which the`tip end 3b of the lead is `16 disposedandmaintained in frictionalengagement by retainer sleeve38.

After the retractor 33, has been' retracted `suiliciently far to causegrooveZS of the receiver to retract into slidable engagement .with thejaws of locking collet 31, `the `inal cycle of feed operation isinstituted by releasing pressure against point 37 of the retractorwhereby springs 24 and 35 will bias the operating parts of the mechanismback to their normalextended positions of use in the following sequenceand manner:

Release of pressure against point 37 permits spring 35, by virtue of itsengagement with slidable Washer 23, `t0 slidably urge said retractor andpoint to extended position. During the major portion of the movement ofVretractor `33 from its retracted to extended position, jaws 30 oflocking collet 31 will remain engaged within groove 28 of barrelreceiver 13 and thereby temporarilymaintain said receiver and barrel intheir retracted positions until retractor'33 has moved to a point justshort of its fully extended position. In this regard, during the majorportionof the `extendedmovement of the retractor, the slidable washer 23will slidably move along over the body of receiver 13 and to a point`whereat said washer will abut against shoulder 26 provided on saidreceiver as shown in Fig. 6. 1t is observedthat when washer `23 isVmoved into engagement with shoulder Z6, the forceof spring 35 willAthen be transmitted directly to the barrel receiver and this force inconjunction with the already existing force of spring 24, also tendingto urge the barrel receiver into extended position, is sufficient too-vercome the clamping action of collet 31 within groove 23 of thereceiver. in this regard, Fig. 6 discloses the 4relative positions ofthe parts at the moment retractor 33 has moved to its nearly fullyextended position and whereat slidable washer 2 3 has moved intoabutting contact against shoulder 26 o f the barrel receiver.

It is also to be observed that lead 3a, by virtue of its `frictionalengagement within retainer ysleeve 38 carried in point `37, will advancewith retractor 33 from its retracted position (as shown in Fig. 5) toits near fully extended position (as shown in Fig. 6). It is importantto further note that this advancement of the lead with the retractor isrelative to barrel 8 and receiver 13 which are maintained in retractedposition by locking collet 31 during this cycle of movement. lMoreover,slidable extendible movement of lead 3a within barrel 8 is permitted byvirtue of the fact that theclamping jaws of collet 9 are maintained inspring biased open position at this stage of operation and hence, collet9 does not exert any clamping action tending to restrain extendiblemovement of the lead relative to the barrel 8.

Referring again to Fig. 6, it is seen that at the moment that theslidable washer 23 abuts against shoulder 26 of receiver 13, theretractor 33 will continue to advance under force of spring 355 to itsfully extended position whereat shoulder 34 of the retractor will abutagainst interior shoulder 36 of the casing (as sho-wn in Fig. 2). At thesame time and as above indicated, the combined forces of springs 24 and35 ,will operate `to forcefully advance groove 23 formed in receiver 13o-ut of locking engagement with the jaws of collet 31. Immediately uponthe release or" collet 31 from groove28, the `force of spring 19 willcause seat 12 to re-engage cam surfaces 11 of collet 9 and cause thelatter to frictionally `clamp the body of lead ,3a. Simultaneously,spring 24 will spring bias receiver 13 backto its fully extendedposition with the clamping collet maintained in clamping engagement withlead 3a. This latter movement will, in turn, advance the tip 3b of thelead through and` beyond point 37 to its extended writing` position (asshown `in Fig. 2).

When all of the parts have moved to` their normal extended positions,thelead feed cycle of `operation-is completed and it .isbeleved evidentVthat whenever desenseo sired, the lead tip 3b can be retracted withinpoint 37 simply by applying axial thrust or pressure thereto ashereinabove explained with particular reference to Fig. 3. Similarly,the lead can thereafter be advanced to its writing Vposition simply bypushing the point 37 of the pencil against a stationary object to causethe point to retract and then extend in the manner also hereinabovedescribed in detail.

As to the amount of force that is required to retract the lead tip 3bwithin the pencil point, and the amount of force required to cause fullretraction of the retractor sleeve 33 during the lead feed cycle, ashereinabove explained, it is appreciated that these forces may beadjustably varied through preadjustment of the spring forces 19, 24 and35. However, although the amount of force which one may customarilyexert in pressing a pencil lead into writing contact against the Writingpaper or other surface varies considerably among dfferent individuals,it would nevertheless appear that seldom would the axial thrust orpressure applied against the lead tip be expected to exceed 11/2 to 2pounds during ordinary use. Accordingly, I have found it verysatisfactory to adjust the collet clamping force of springs 19 and 24 torestrain slidable retraction of the lead against axial thrust appliedthereto up to about a maximum of three pounds pressure, at which timethe lead will first resiliently yield and then retract within thesupporting mechanism as hereinabove explained.

Furthermore, although the amount of thrust required to overcome thecombined resistance of springs 24 and 35 to effect full retraction ofretractor 33 during the lead feed cycle may be varied considerably, Ihave found it satisfactory to adjust the tension of springs 24 and A35to permit full retraction of retractor 33 to a point whereat groove 28of barrel receiver 13 is locked within collet jaws 30 upon applicationof approximately 5 pounds pressure.

As previously indicated, magazine 2 for containing a reserve supply ofwriting leads is removably insertable within the upper body portion ofcasing 1. It is contemplated that replacement magazine inserts completewith new eraser and a reserve supply of leads can be manufactured andsold as separate components as a convenience to owners or users of thepencils in replenishing writing leads and replacing eraser tips.

A novel feature and advantage of the magazine insert 2 is that the upperend of the magazine chamber is plugged or closed by rubber eraser 4having an annular shoulder la which in turn provides a cushion of shockabsorbent material between cap 6 and insert 2. Shock forces applied tothe operating mechanism of the pencil will be transmitted in part atleast through the magazine insert to the shock absorbing cushion 4a ofthe eraser. This shock absorbing feature reduces likelihood of injury tothe mechanim or breakage of the writing leads within the mechanism dueto shock forces occasioned through ordinary handling and use of thepencil.

The funnel-shaped bore 7 also as above indicated provides a means forguiding reserve leads 3 into the bore of barrel 8 as the writing lead 3abecomes progressively shortened due to ordinary wear or breakage. InView of the fact that the pencil is held substantially vertically inordinary writing use, each reserve lead piece will advance underinfluence of gravity from the magazine chamber through barrel 8 to apoint whereat collet 9 engages the forward end of the lead, whereuponthe lead is thereafter controlled and fed through aperturned point 37through operation of the collet and other operating parts and assemblieshereinabove described.

Although it is contemplated that the present invention will haveparticular utility in providing automatic pencils of the character abovedescribed in some detail,

- it is nevertheless appreciated that substantially the same fmechanical features and principles of operation hereinabove explained,could, within the ordinary skill of the art, be adapted and utilized toprovide other types of automatic writing instruments, such as, forexample, ball-point pens o1- similar instruments that employ elongate,cylindrical writing styles generally equivalent to the cylindricalwriting lead of a pencil of the character described.

Although the invention has been described in some detail by way ofillustration and example, it is understood that certain changes andmodifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention aslimited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. A pencil comprising: a tubular casing; a barrel mounted slidablylengthwise within said casing for slidably receiving and supporting alengthv of lead; clamp means carried by said barrel for releasablyclamping said lead against slidable retractable movement within saidbarrel during normal writing use; a barrel receiver tube mouted slidablyon said barrel; clamp actuating means carried by said receiver tube andslidably movable therewith into and out of engagement with said clampmeans for causing clamping and unclamping of said lead; a retractorsleeve mounted in said casing for slidable movement relative thereto andrelative to said barrel receiver tube; said retractor sleeve including acentrally apertured tapered point dening the writing point of saidpencil projecting slidably outwardly beyond the end of said casing andthrough which said lead can be slidably extended and retracted;frictional lead gripping means in said point normally engaging leadprojected therethrough and having a weaker lead clamping power than thelead clamping power of said clamp means; spring means normally biasingsaid tapered point to extended position; means including separableabutment means between said retractor sleeve and said barrel-receivertube for causing movement of said clamp actuating means carried by saidreceiver tube away from said clamp means to cause deactuation of saidclamp when said retractor sleeve is moved toward its retracted positionagainst the force of said spring means; locking means for releasablysecuring said receiver tube in retracted position during at least aportion of the movement of said retractor sleeve and point from theirretracted positions toward their extended positions under influence ofsaid spring means and whereby the lead frictionally engaged by saidgripping means in said point is caused to advance with said point anincrement of extended movement relative to said barrel and saiddeactuated clamp means, means including said spring means fordeactuating said locking means upon movement of said retractor sleevefrom its retracted position to its ear fully extended position; andmeans including said spring means operable upon deactuation of saidlocking means for moving said clamp actuating means carried by saidreceiver tube into engagement with said clamp means and for movingtogether said receiver tube and barrel from their respective retractedpositions to their extended positions relative to said point to slidablyadvance and extend the writing end tip of said lead through theapertured extended point of said retractor sleeve against the frictionallead clamping power of said gripping means engaging said lead.

2. A pencil comprising: a tubular casing; a barrel mounted slidablylengthwise Within said casing for slidably receiving and supporting alength of writing lead; a clamping collet having spring jaws normallybiased to open position for releasably clamping said lead againstslidable, retractable movement within said barrel during normal writinguse; a barrel receiver tube of shorter length than said barrel mountedslidably on said barrel; a collet jaw seat carried by said receiver tubeand slidably movable with said tube into and out of engagement with saidcollet jaws for causing clamping and unclamping of said jaws against thelead; rst spring means nort. mally biasing the seat of said receivertube into clamping Aengagement twith `saidr collet jaws; agvretractorsleeve -frictional lead gripping means in said tapered-fpoint norwmallys engaging said `lead-projected therethrough and having a weakerlead clamping-power than the lead clamping power of said clampfcmeans;second spring means normally biasing saidt tapered point toxextendedposition; stationary means in saidtcasing, abutmentmeans provided onsaid barrel and engageable against said -stationary means within saidcasing for limiting the per missible extent of retractable movement ofsaid barrel; separable abutment means between said retractor sleeve andsaid barrel receiver tube and upon engagement of said stationary meanswith the first mentioned of said abutment means for causing said seat ofsaid receiver tube to move away from said collet jaws and release fromclamping engagement with said lead during retractile movement of saidretractor sleeve against the force of said second spring means; lockingmeans for releasably securing said receiver tube and said barrel inretracted positions during at least the major portion of movement ofsaid retractor sleeve and point from their retracted positions towardtheir extended positions under inuence of said second spring means andwhereby the lead frictionally engaged by said gripping means in saidpoint is caused to advance with said point an increment of extendedmovement relative to said barrel and said deactuated clamp means; meansincluding said rst and second spring means for deactuating said lockingmeans upon movement of said retractor sleeve from its retracted positionto its near fully extended position; and spring means including said rstspring means operable upon deactuation of said locking means for movingthe collet seat of said receiver tube into engagement with said colletjaws for clamping said lead and for moving simultaneously said receivertube, said barrel and the lead clamped within the barrel from theirrespective retracted positions to their respective extended positionsrelative to said point whereby the writing end tip of said lead isadvanced through the apertured extended point of said retractor sleeveagainst the rictional lead clamping power of said gripping meansengaging said lead.

3. A pencil according to claim 2 and wherein said abutment meanscomprises a stationary partition mounted in said casing and formed withan aperture slidably receiving said barrel, said abutment means providedon said barrel comprising an abutment shoulder mounted on said barrelforwardly of said partition for abutment against said partition to limitthe extent of permissible lretractable movement of said barrel withinsaid casing.

4. A pencil according to claim 2 and wherein said abutment meanscomprises a stationary partition mounted in said casing and formed withan aperture slidably receiving said barrel, said abutment means providedon said barrel comprising an abutment shoulder mounted on said barrelforwardly of said partition for abutment against said partition to limitthe extent of permissible retractable movement of said barrel withinsaid casing; and wherein said irst spring means comprises a helicalspring mounted on said barrel with its opposite ends engaging saidpartition and the inner end of said barrel receiver tube mounted on saidbarrel.

5. A pencil comprising: a tubular casing; a barrel mounted slidablylengthwise within said casing for slidably receiving and supporting alength of writing lead; a clamping collet having spring jaws normallybiased to open position for releasably clamping said lead againstslidable, retractable movement within said barrel during normal writinguse; a barrel receiver tube of shorter length than saidbarrelmountedtslidablv on saidbarrel;

`iaycolletijaw seat carried.` by` said .receivertubeaand slid- .:ablymovable with said tube into` and out engagement v.with said collet .jawsfor causingtelampingand unclamping of `said jaws against the lead; ashoulder:` provided on said barrelspaced inwardly fromrfthe inner end ofsaid receiver tubeyatrst expansion springtbetweenl said `shoulder andthe` innerend` of said receiverttubenormally biasingr theiseat of saidreceivertube` intorclamping engagement with said `collet jaws; aistationary transverse partition mounted in said. casing spaced to theYinward side of said shoulder,.engageable ,withsaid shoulder tolimit;,therpermissibleextent of retractable :movement of `#saidbarreltwithinA saidcasing; afretractor sleeve mounted in said casing forslidable movement relative thereto and relative to said receiver tube;said retractor sleeve including a centrally apertured, tapered pointdening the writing point of said pencil projecting slidably outwardlybeyond the end of said casing and through which said lead can beslidably extended and retracted; frictional lead gripping means in saidtapered point normally engaging lead projected therethrough and having aweaker lead clamping power than the lead clamping power of said clampmeans; an apertured washer mounted slidably on said receiver tube withits outer periphery engageable against the inner end of said retractorsleeve; a second expansion spring mounted between said stationarypartition and said Washer normally spring biasing the latter intoengagement against the inner end of said retractor sleeve and normallybiasing said retractor sleeve including said tapered point to extendedposition; said washer correspondingly retractable with said retractorsleeve against the force of said second spring; a washer abutmentshoulder provided on said receiver tube toward the retractor sleeve sideof said washer; mutually engageable means provided on said barrelreceiver tube and said retractor sleeve for causing said receiver tubeto retract corresponding to retractable movement of said retractorsleeve and washer to thereby cause the collet seat carried by saidreceiver tube to move away from engagement with the collet jaws uponabutment of the shoulder carried by said barrel against said stationarypartition; locking means for releasably securing said receiver tube insaid barrel in retracted position during at least a major portion of themovement of said retractor sleeve from its retracted position toward itsextended position under inuence of said second expansion spring andwhereby the lead frictionally engaged by said gripping means in saidtapered point is caused to advance with said tapered point an incrementof extended movement -rela tive to said barrel and said deactuated clampmeans; said locking means releasable from locking engagement with saidreceiver tube upon transmittal of the expansion force of said secondspring to said receiver tube; the space between said slidable washer andthe abutment shoulder on said receiver tube when both said retractorsleeve and said receiver tube occupy their fully retracted positionsbeing equal to the distance that the retractor sleeve moves from itsretracted to near fully extended position, whereby When said retractorsleeve moves into near fully extended position from its retractedposition said washer will move slidably over said receiver tube intocontact with said abutment shoulder and thereby transmit the expansionforce of said second spring to said receiver tube and cause release ofsaid locking means; a second abutment shoulder provided on said receivertube adjacent said seat; a third expansion sprlng mounted between saidsecond abutment shoulder and said washer normally biasing said receivertube toward extended position; said rst and third expansion springsoperable upon release of said locking means to move the collet seat ofsaid receiver tube into engagement with said collet jaws for clampingsaid lead and for moving simultaneously said receiver tube, said barrel,and the lead clamped within the barrel from their respective retractedpositions to their respective ex,

1l tended positions relative to said tapered point whereby the writingend tip of said lead is advanced through said apertured extended pointof said pencil against the frictional lead clamping power of saidgripping means engaging said lead.

6. A pencil according to claim 5 and wherein said locking meanscomprises a locking collet having spring locking jaws normally biased toclosed position against the body of said receiver tube; the body of saidbarrel receiver tube retractable slidably between said jaws; an annulargroove formed in the body of said receiver tube located to register withand be releasably engaged by said locking jaws when said receiver tubeis moved slidably through said jaws into retracted position; saidlocking jaws disengageable from said groove upon transmittal of theexpansion force of said second spring to said receiver tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS TM70,598 Eagle Pencil Co. Sept. 15, 1908 2,166,751 Cooper July 18, 19392,311,906 Leistenschneider Feb. 23, 1943 2,436,437 Koch Feb. 24, 19482,469,411 Robbins May 10, 1949 2,561,113 Hallbert July 17, 19512,645,204 Bross July 14, 1953

